Adrian Frater, News Editor

Superintendent Denver Frater. - Norman Grindley/ Deputy Chief Photographer

Western Bureau

While seemingly a source of sudden wealth, the police have identified a thriving multimillion- dollar credit card scam now operating in Montego Bay as a possible hidden hand behind the murderous crime wave that is now sweeping the western city.

The scam, which is reportedly flourishing through an alliance between local scam artists and unscrupulous employees at 'off shore gambling' establishments in the Montego Bay Free Zone, entails using the credit card numbers and personal information of unsuspecting American gamblers to fleece them of millions of dollars under the guise of providing them with a legitimate service.

"We are aware of the scam and we have identified a number of persons who we believe are involved," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Denver Frater, a senior officer at Operation King Fish, told The Sunday Gleaner. "We can't disclose too much because our investigations are at a delicate state but we aware of what is happening and moving in on the major players."

While many Montegonians are basking in the new cars, homes and material trappings they have acquired through the scam, ACP Frater said police investigations have uncovered a link between the scam and the recent upsurge of crime, especially the spate of murders that has been affecting Montego Bay.

"Investigations have revealed that unscrupulous persons from outside of Montego Bay have been moving into the city to cash in on the scam and it is leading to conflict with the local-based scam artists," said the senior lawman. "We have reason to believe that some of the shootings and recent kidnappings could be linked to some of these feuds."

According to information garnered by The Sunday Gleaner, the scam artists received the credit card numbers, names and personal information of gambling clients for a fee ranging from US$3,000 and US$5,000 from persons working in the Free Zone. The information is then used to call the 'clients,' who are then told that they have won a large sum of money and need to send a particular amount to process their winnings.

"Once you have the names and personal information, the 'clients' usually cooperate because they have no reason to doubt what you are telling them," said a source familiar with the scam. "They are usually so happy to hear that they have won something that they will quickly send the money."

The Sunday Gleaner further learnt that the unsuspecting 'clients' are usually instructed to send the processing fee, which could range from as low as US$1,000 to a much as US$5,000, to a particular name (usually fictitious) at a local money transfer agency, where it is collected by the scam artist or someone working for him.

"It is simple as ABC. Once they send the funds to the money transfer agency, all you need is an ID (bogus if you are not using your own name) to get the cash and, bingo, you are loaded," explained The Sunday Gleaner source. "Believe me, it is the biggest thing in Montego Bay right now."

Trade under pressure

ACP Frater said with the drug trade under severe pressure with the arrest of several top players, low-level crime operatives see the credit card scam as a new source of getting illicit money. However, he said it is only a matter of time before this latest scheme is smashed.

Montego Bay has been a haven of numerous scams, the most famous of which was the 2001 illicit Partner Plan Scheme, which reportedly saw its operators raking in approximately J$150 million in six months as persons, who bought into their enticing get-rich-quick- scheme, were fleeced of substantial sums.

Eventually, the infamous pyramid-style scheme collapsed as its major players - Esmie Jones, the Speedy Cash Plan, Kenneth Chue, Fast Cash, and Winston Gillings the Revolving Partner Plan - got in trouble with the law after being busted by the Montego Bay Fraud Squad.